Metals : White Gold

White gold was developed to give a different look to jewellery. The white colour is an excellent setting for very white diamonds, and when used side by side with yellow gold, it creates a striking effect.
White gold has the same properties as yellow, but has been mixed with different metals, such as nickel, zinc or even platinum, to create the white colour. However, white gold should not be confused with platinum, which is much rarer than gold – and so more valuable.
The carat system used in white gold is the same as that used in yellow gold. 18ct gold contains 75% gold whatever the colour; only the remaining 25% of the alloy is different. White gold is sometimes plated with an even whiter metal, such as rhodium (a very rare member of the platinum family), to enhance its appearance.